FREE Beginner's Fly Fishing Program

This is a great way to get inroduced to the sport! Join us for an informative session on beginning fly fishing which covers the basics on what you need to do to get started, where to go and what further steps to take to become a proficient fly fisher. These are scheduled periodically throughout the season, please refer to our seasonal newsletter or the Calendar page of this website. No equipment or experience necessary. Please call to reserve a seat. This program + is now available on DVD!!!! These are scheduled periodically throughout the year. This class is well worth the investment.

Please call to make a reservation.

Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, September 2nd- 7-9 p.m.

Basic Knots and Rigging

This class is designed to teach you the basics of "putting things together". We will cover how you put together your outfit, how to properly attach leaders and tippets, basic rigging and will cover some basic knots. Will also go into basic rigging techniques for dries, nymphs and streamers as well as talk about some warmwater rigging techniques.

Class will last about an hour and a half and will cost $25.00 per student.

Please call to make a reservation

Upcoming Dates:

Fly Casting Classes

Fly casting is very easy but it can also be a complete disaster if some basic fundamentals aren’t understood. Let our instructors take the mystery out of fly casting! We offer a two-hour Basic Fly Casting Class designed to teach you these fundamentals and we guarantee you will learn to be a better fly caster. Students are required to have a basic rod, reel, leader set-up (rentals available...please let us know in advance). Private instruction is available at any time if you have any specific questions or problems. Please call to sign up for a class or to schedule a private appointment!

Knots and Leaders

Two of the most mis-understood.....and most important aspects of the sport. Join Brian Flechsig for an intesive two hour class that will completely take the mystery out of both! He will cover proper leader design and selection for all types of fishing situations and then show you how to attach everything.......easily. You will come away from this class with the skills needed to become a much better fly angler!!!!!!
This may be the most important class that you ever take regarding fly fishing......period.

Knots and Leaders Class: $25.00 per student

Upcoming Dates:

One-Day Schools:

MRO Scheduled Schools or Private Schools

Introduction to Fly Fishing

Spend a day learning the basics of fly fishing. These schools are a combination of classroom lecture and hands-on practice capped off with the opportunity to catch and land your first fish on a fly. This is a great way to “get your feet wet” in the sport of fly fishing without having to make a huge investment in gear.

Plan to arrive at the location (map and details provided) at 10:00 a.m. Topics covered will be basic equipment, knots and leaders, rigging, basic fishing technique, basic fly casting, basic entomology and fly selection and of course the fishing! You should plan on the day lasting until around 5:00 p.m. See the Calendar page of this website for scheduled schools.

Cost: $195.00 per student. Includes instruction, gear & fishing.

Pre-Requisites: None. This class is designed for complete beginners or someone just getting into fly fishing who wants to jump start their learning process. MRO’s “Getting Started in Fly Fishing” DVD set is a great primer for these schools.

Recomended Gear:

4, 5 or 6wt fly rod and reel & matching fly line.

9 foot 4X leader (s)

Selection of tippet material 3X-5X (at least 4X)

Fly floatant, split-shot, strike indicators.

Fishing Vest (optional)

Polarized sunglasses (Glasses are required for safety.)

Line clipper/nipper

Hemostats/Forceps

Hat or cap

A sampling of flies including nymphs, dried flies and streamers.

Pen/Pencil & Note Paper

Folding Camp chair

No Waders Required.

**please pack a lunch

*Please note that this is primarily a learning day and not a fishing trip. If you don’t have exactly everything, it won’t ruin your day.
Fly rod, reel and line combinations are available for use with prior arrangement.

*Suggested minimum age is 12 years old. Students under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
A 50% deposit is required to hold a reservation and full payment is due fifteen days before the course. No refunds after fifteen days prior to course date.

2015 1-Day School Dates:

Sunday, April 19th at Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club w/Brian Flechsig

Monday, June 22nd at Sunnybrook Trout Club w/Graham Stokes

Sunday, July 19th- at Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club w/Brian Flechsig

Sunday, September 27th- at Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club w/Brian Flechsig

Many More TBA!

These will be held at Sunnybrook Trout Club on the legendary Cold Creek in Northern Ohio or at Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club near Bellefontaine, Ohio...... with either Graham Stokes or Brian Flechsig as your instructor

Call or e-mail to reserve a spot in a One-Day Fly Fishing School: 888-451-0363 or contact us here.

* Private bookings available- call or e-mail for more details and for scheduling - pricing below
Prviate One-Day Schools- Can be scheduled for individuals or groups.

$350.00 for 1 student

$450.00 for 2 students

$100 per additional

* call for pricing on larger groups

***transportation to and from Port Columbus International Airport and overnight lodging can be arranged.

Call or e-mail to reserve a private One-Day Fly Fishing School 888-451-0363 or contact us here.

"On-River" Seminars

Spend a day on the water with the guides that fish there! These seminars are geared towards intermediate to advanced fly fishing for trout and smallmouth bass in streams, largemouth bass in lakes and carp in both. They are a full-day of intensive learning- half-day classroom and half-day on the water with techniques and principles applied to actual fishing situations. A great way to learn more about the sport and about local waters.

Highly Recommended beforehand is one of our FREE beginners programs and a some basic fly casting skills. Rod and reel set-up and some basic equipment is required. These classes should be viewed as intermediate to advanced and not geared towards "rank beginners". Lunch is not included, please pack one for yourself and bring along.

Orvis Ohio Fly Fishing Schools

2015 Dates now up!

Mad River Outfitters is proud to have been selected to host the only official Orvis fly fishing schools in this part of the country.

These 2-day fly fishing schools will be held at Sunnybrook Trout Club near Sandusky, Ohio. Centrally located for students from Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton and Cincinnati! Fantastic fishing, lodging and dining available on these 2-day excursions.

Click Here for more details, pricing and dates and contact Orvis to sign-up!

Fly Fishing Entomology 101

One of the biggest challenges that beginner and intermediate angler's face is trying to determine what fish are eating....and how that relates to the flies that you should be using. This class is designed to take the mystery out of fly selection.You will learn alot about bugs and their life cycles as well as other food organisms that fish eat. After getting pretty in-depth though, we will simplify things for you and make the process seem much easier and understandable than you ever imagined.

Entomology 101: $25.00 per student

Upcoming dates:

Fly Tying Classes:

Fly tying can be a very fun and rewarding hobby and it brings the sport of fly fishing full circle. Nothing is more fun for a fly fisher than catching a fish on a fly that they have tied. We are proud to offer a full range of classes designed to teach you to tie your own flies when you can't be out fishing. A basic vise and a tool set are all that are required for the class although you will need to purchase some basic materials to practice with at home. A book and manual are included with the cost of the class.

Classes include basic, advanced and bass bug as well as specialty classes throughout the season. Basic and Advanced Classes are based on a 4 week session, Bass Bug on a 2 week session. These are almost always held on Monday or Wednesday nights and occaisionally on Saturday mornings. We typically run one Basic class in November, one in January and one in February. Advanced runs only in January and Bass Bug varies. Please check our Calendar for the dates of these classes.

Specialty Fly Tying:

Mad River Outfitters periodically offers specialty fly tying classes. These are usually scheduled during the winter months and are often taught by celebrity/guest tyers. They usually entail one session and may last for hours at a time. Guest tyers we have had in the past include: A.K. Best, Jim Stewart, Carl Richards, Lefty Kreh, Chris Helm, Davy Wotton, Jim Teeny, Dave Whitlock, Kelly Galloup....and others. Keep your eyes on the website and the Calendar page for details on these classes as they arise. Prices vary.

Advanced/Saltwater Fly Casting

This will be an intensive, three hour class, geared towards taking your casting to the next level. Brian Flechsig has had the pleasure of studying fly casting with the likes of Flip Pallot, Lefty Kreh and Dave Whitlock and has come up with a system of teaching that is like no other. One hour will be spent in classroom.....looking at the different components of the cast on a chalk board. Then, the final two hours will be spent working on the techniques with fly rod in hand. The techniques learned will be advanced such as the double haul, and will be geared towards saltwater fly casting although certainly apply to all types of casting.

Students are recommended to bring a 5-6 wt rod and an 8-9 wt rod although one or the other will work if that is all you have. Equipment can be provided if needed! This class is limited to 6 students and will be offered three times throughout the season, Spring, Summer and Fall.

Upcoming dates:

Carp School

Over 10 years ago, MRO's Brian Flechsig released a DVD entitled "Carpin". It was and still is a grounbreaking essay on the growing sport of carp fishing with a fly rod. He began conducting guide trips and helping many anglers catch their 1st carp on a fly.

Today the tradition continues with MRO store manager Andy Jensen. Andy operates a guide service through MRO called "The Fly-N-Carp". He guides folks out of his "Ohio Flats Boat" on some of the best carp haunts in the area. Once or twice a year Andy conducts a "Carp School". This is basically one of our On-River Seminars and is typically held at the Muzzy Lakes Club near Urbana, Ohio.

Anglers need to have some basic equipment and a few flies and a burning desire to learn more about catching carp on a fly.
These schools run $125.00 per angler and are limited to 6 students per session.

Advanced Knots and Leaders/Saltwater Rigging

Brian will take his now famous Knots and Leaders Class yet another step forward. After a quick review, he will launch into some advanced concepts in leader designs as well as demonstrationg yet more useful knots. This class will also cover the ins-and-outs of rigging for saltater....tackle and leaders. And yes.....he will teach the bimini twist!

Private Lessons

Need some help with your casting......or maybe want to perfect the double haul? Maybe you have a particular fly pattern...or fly tying technique that is giving you fits.

Let us help you! Our experienced instructors are available by the hour for private instruction on just about any subject related to fly fishing. Private One-Day Schools availalbe for groups of 1 or more anglers and equipment can be provided!

Private Fly Casting Lessons:

$45.00 per hour/ per student meet at the shop

Prviate Lessons- Any subject but particularly fly tying:

$45.00 per hour/ per student meet at the shop

Prviate One-Day Schools:

$350.00 for 1 student
$450.00 for 2 students
$100.00 per additional

* call for pricing on larger groups ***equipment can be provided.

Give us a call or drop us an e-mail to discuss the possibilities and available times.

Spey/Switch Fly Casting

This will be a two hour program designed to give you the basics of working with a two-handed rod. One hour will be spent in classroom setting going over definitions and some rigging helps. The second hour will be in the field with demos and trial on some basic casts. All equipment will be provided for this introductory class.

Spey/Switch Fly Casting Clinic: $25.00

Upcoming dates:

Fall 2015 TBA

Tying Tube Flies

No two ways about it....tube flies are hot! Tube flies are easy, they are smart...and they will catch anything that swims.
Brian Flechsig will teach this "Intro to Tube Flies" seminar/class for the coming season. He will cover all of the tools and components and then the students will tie two types of tube flies.

The class will include a new Eumer tube fly adapter as well as a tube fly "sampler" kit with enough materials for the class and a few for practice.

New! Tying Tube Flies: $40.00 per student which includes tube fly adapter. $25.00 if you have one or tf vise.